Log in

View Full Version : separating tail lights


sweetbmxrider
12-19-2008, 04:08 PM
how do i separate the lense from the plastic backing? also, if anyone has stock LT1 taillights for cheap, pm me.

transmaro93
12-19-2008, 04:34 PM
you can probably use a heat gun to loosen the glue and get one of the small screw drivers and work it around it prying it very carefully... dont go crazy cause its plastic it will break... but that should work...what are you trying to do???

sweetbmxrider
12-19-2008, 04:42 PM
yeah i tried that with a front marker lense, it was working a little but i cracked it :lol: i had one of those gasket scrappers too so it had a good edge. i heard they can be baked but wasn't sure if someone here had done anything like this and had tips.

i replaced a tail light on an 08 scalade. the lense was broken on it. has LED's that light up red. 4 strips of like 8 or so. wanna sneak them in the tail light somehow. i was going to use them as DRL in the front, but they are red and i don't need that bs attention too. so some sweet looking brake lights i guess. maybe, just maybe, sneak them into the turn signals as well.

ar0ck
12-19-2008, 04:45 PM
Look up how to paint the amber on a 3rd gen Camaro tail-lights, its the same process.

sweetbmxrider
12-19-2008, 05:49 PM
ok yeah i have seen that where they do the candy red. thanks.

Slow96LT1
12-19-2008, 06:44 PM
i got a set of lt-1 tail light and black out covers 60 bux 50bux without covers
as far as taking them apart just bake them in the oven at 350 for like 10 min just keep an eye on them and they pull right apart done it to a bunch of honda headlight to paint the inside black

FIcamaroRE92
12-20-2008, 11:24 AM
That would look bad ass. 8-)

madness410
12-20-2008, 12:09 PM
yeah the LED's would look bad ass. i painted the housing on a buddy of mines headlights and separated the lens from the housing by putting it in an oven for a few minutes then prying it apart with a screwdriver gently, maybe it could be the same thing with the tail lights

NastyEllEssWon
12-21-2008, 05:43 AM
put your oven to 250 degrees. put the tails on a slab of wood in the oven...if the plastic touches metal its gonna melt stuff....leave the door open and watch it for 10 minutes. after all the glue is melted they just peel right apart

sweetbmxrider
12-21-2008, 10:52 AM
sick i'll try it on a junk front corner first. this should look pretty sweet.

FIcamaroRE92
12-21-2008, 12:07 PM
post pics when you get 'em installed

sweetbmxrider
12-21-2008, 12:44 PM
fer sure! might be some time but i've got time. going to be a pita to get it to look real good and fit well but i'm game.

creeper
12-21-2008, 06:48 PM
popping my tail lights apart was a painnnnn, even with a heat gun and a thousand screw drivers, picks, and scrapers to get the glue out. i chipped the corner off in the process. woops.

maroman88
12-22-2008, 02:36 PM
i tried to get apart one of the honeycombs off the 98TA and had no luck.... one light is real dark and one is nice and red!!! wtf

sweetbmxrider
12-22-2008, 03:20 PM
cell phone pics of the leds

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1195/48/4/707706396/n707706396_2266105_7.jpg

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1195/48/4/707706396/n707706396_2266107_3693.jpg

if i looked straight at them lit up, my eyes hurt. i noticed my cell auto adjusted for the brightness, before it does its pretty much just red on the screen :lol:
i think it will show right through the VHT

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1195/48/4/707706396/n707706396_2266108_2316.jpg

creeper
12-22-2008, 06:59 PM
i tried to get apart one of the honeycombs off the 98TA and had no luck.... one light is real dark and one is nice and red!!! wtf

that's why i did mine. there was not one spec of reflective paint left on the inside of it. spray painted it silver. looks way better now.

FIcamaroRE92
12-22-2008, 07:27 PM
cell phone pics of the leds

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1195/48/4/707706396/n707706396_2266105_7.jpg

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1195/48/4/707706396/n707706396_2266107_3693.jpg

if i looked straight at them lit up, my eyes hurt. i noticed my cell auto adjusted for the brightness, before it does its pretty much just red on the screen :lol:
i think it will show right through the VHT

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1195/48/4/707706396/n707706396_2266108_2316.jpg

Do you have to put a coat of clear on the VHT, I sprayed mine and it came out flat black?

Also, Those LED look sick

ar0ck
12-22-2008, 08:02 PM
Make sure you use the right resisters or you might throw an ABS light, I know some people have that issue when putting the SS LED 3rd brake light in.

creeper
12-22-2008, 08:10 PM
vht normally comes out flatish. i've heard of ppl wetsanding/clearcoating it to give it a better finish. or you can use their spray on window tint? i think it is, which dries glossier.

FIcamaroRE92
12-22-2008, 08:24 PM
vht normally comes out flatish. i've heard of ppl wetsanding/clearcoating it to give it a better finish. or you can use their spray on window tint? i think it is, which dries glossier.

ya i used it on my t-tops, came out great, lights=Ftw tho:cry: soiled a decent pair of side markers

sweetbmxrider
12-22-2008, 11:12 PM
Do you have to put a coat of clear on the VHT, I sprayed mine and it came out flat black?

Also, Those LED look sick

thanks and yeah. i left mine flat black. might clear them up though. i would do a few light coats of clear and some guys polish them to really get them wet looking. experiment! (with spare lenses)

Make sure you use the right resisters or you might throw an ABS light, I know some people have that issue when putting the SS LED 3rd brake light in.

yeah i've been wanting to do an ss spoiler and have heard/read this many times though. thanks for the heads up.

madness410
12-23-2008, 01:19 AM
im excited to see how this turns out..should put a pretty nice touch on your tail lights

NJSPEEDER
12-23-2008, 10:50 PM
That looks like it is gonna be sweet once it is done. Did you get that as a kit or wire it yourself?

sweetbmxrider
12-23-2008, 11:41 PM
stole them from a cracked escalade tail light. the tail light goes for 350+ from the dealer, these worked fine so yoinks! should be a fun little project. i hope it all goes together nicely. i need to check some wiring diagrams. they will probably only function as brake lights, which is cool still.

sweetbmxrider
02-09-2009, 07:10 PM
well a little update. tried separating a tail light, failed. it dimpled like they do with black out covers on. so i am thinking of just drilling holes in the back of the lens for the leds to come through and be done with them. i'll try it out on a junk lens and see what happens. if it works, i'll post pics!